View full sizeAn overhaul of Mobile’s smoking ordinance continues to languish as anti-smoking advocacy groups push for a comprehensive ban on smoking in all public places, including bars that don’t serve food or admit minors. (AP Photo)

MOBILE, Alabama -- An overhaul of Mobile's smoking ordinance continues to languish as anti-smoking advocacy groups push for a comprehensive ban on smoking in all public places, including bars that don't serve food or admit minors.

Lobbyists from the American Heart Association and the American Cancer Society as well as a representative from Americans for Nonsmokers’ Rights visited the City Council Tuesday to reiterate their support for a comprehensive ban.

“All eyes are on you guys, across the country and across the state,” Ginny Campbell, of the Cancer Society, told the council. “You guys are going to set the pace for the rest of the state.”

The council has for years been discussing an update to the city’s smoking ordinance, which hasn’t been changed since smoking in government buildings was banned in the 1990s. Council members have thus far been unable to agree on how far to take the smoking ban.

An ordinance that would have made it illegal to smoke in virtually all places of employment except for bars nearly made onto the agenda in January, but it was abandoned.

Anti-smoking advocates launched a campaign against the ordinance because, in their view, it didn’t go far enough.

For the time being, however, there doesn’t seem to be enough votes on the City Council to support a comprehensive ban.

Councilman Fred Richardson said Tuesday that a comprehensive ban would infringe on personal freedom.

“If a person invests in a business and wants to allow smoke, that’s his choice,” he said. “They are grown.”

Councilman John Williams said he was reticent to infringe on private property rights for a rule that may not even achieve its goal, protecting people from second-hand smoke.

Even if smoking inside is banned, smokers still carry carcinogenic particles on their body from previously smoked cigarettes, he said. Likewise, if smoking is allowed outside, then people would still be subject to some second hand smoke as they walked to and from bars and restaurants, Williams said.

Campbell said that the carcinogenic particles that smokers carry on their clothes are less harmful than second-hand smoke.

If the city is not ready to pass a comprehensive ban, she said, perhaps its better not to pass any ordinance at all.

“Why pass something bad that you just have to come back and fix,” said Melanie Bridgeforth, a lobbyist for the American Heart Association.

Councilman William Carroll, who has taken the lead on the smoking ordinance, said that a ban of some kind will eventually get passed. The question is how far it will go, he said.

Birmingham enacted a ban of its own earlier this year. That city’s ordinance bans smoking in restaurants and bars, though cigar bars are exempt.